Character Relationship Map: Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession

Characters

• Aleksandr 'Shurik' Timofeyev, inventor (played by Aleksandr Demyanenko) — protagonist

  Engineer who invents a time machine. Accidentally sends a 16th-century tsar to the present and swaps him with his building superintendent and a burglar. He frantically attempts to repair the device to...

• Ivan the Terrible / Ivan Vasilievich Bunsha (played by Yuriy Yakovlev) — protagonist

  Building superintendent who is accidentally transported to 16th-century Russia. Due to a striking resemblance, he is forced to impersonate Tsar Ivan IV. Despite his completely different modern persona...

• Zhorzh Miloslavsky / knyaz Miloslavsky (played by Leonid Kuravlyov) — supporting

  A burglar accidentally sent back to the 16th century alongside Bunsha. He disguises himself as a prince (knyaz) of the same name. After their false identities are exposed by the tsar's guards, he join...

• Zinaida, Shurik's wife (played by Natalya Seleznyova) — supporting
• Uliana Andreevna Bunsha, superintendent's wife (played by Natalya Krachkovskaya) — supporting

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Ivan the Terrible / Ivan Vasilievich Bunsha → Uliana Andreevna Bunsha, superintendent's wife (Family Husband And Wife) — Bunsha is married to Uliana Andreevna.

  The character list identifies Uliana Andreevna as the superintendent's wife, Ivan Vasilievich Bunsha.

• Aleksandr 'Shurik' Timofeyev, inventor → Zinaida, Shurik's wife (Family Husband And Wife) — Shurik is married to Zinaida.

  The character list identifies Zinaida as Shurik's wife.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Ivan the Terrible / Ivan Vasilievich Bunsha → Zhorzh Miloslavsky / knyaz Miloslavsky (Alliance Forced Allies) — The two displaced men cooperate to maintain their disguises and survive the guards' attack.

  The reference says Bunsha and Miloslavsky are sent to the 16th century together, adopt disguises, and fight off the tsar's guards together after their...

• Aleksandr 'Shurik' Timofeyev, inventor → Zhorzh Miloslavsky / knyaz Miloslavsky (Narrative Inventor And Accidental Transportee) — Shurik's machine sends Miloslavsky into the past, and Shurik works to restore him to his own time.

  Shurik's machine accidentally sends Miloslavsky, a burglar, back to the 16th century alongside Bunsha.

• Aleksandr 'Shurik' Timofeyev, inventor → Ivan the Terrible / Ivan Vasilievich Bunsha (Narrative Inadvertent Time-Travel Partners) — Shurik's invention displaces Bunsha, making their efforts to restore the timelines central to the plot.

  Shurik's time machine accidentally sends Bunsha to the 16th century, where he impersonates Tsar Ivan IV; Shurik then tries to repair the machine to re...

Story Analysis

A malfunctioning time machine entangles modern Moscow with Ivan IV's era through mistaken identities, danger, and an ambiguous dreamlike resolution.

Plot Progression

1. An Invention Goes Awry — Shurik works on his time machine in Moscow. An accident sends Bunsha and Miloslavsky into the past and brings the real Ivan IV to Shurik's apartment.
2. Impostors in the Past — Bunsha's resemblance to the tsar lets him impersonate Ivan IV, while Miloslavsky poses as a knyaz. Shurik tries to manage the real tsar and repair the machine.
3. Pressure Closes In — A burgled neighbor alerts the police, putting Shurik under pressure as he works on the machine. In the past, the guards uncover Bunsha's false identity.
4. The Guards' Attack — With their cover blown, Bunsha and Miloslavsky fight off the tsar's guards. Shurik's effort to repair the machine becomes the route back to their proper timelines.
5. Return and Reframing — The displaced characters return to their respective eras. The story then presents the adventure as Shurik's dream, while leaving a note of uncertainty.